Sheet caliper apparatus



Jan. 11, 1966 L, Q W|L| |AM5 ETAL 3,228,681

SHEET CALIPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l Tfn. l-

l INVENTORS SHEET CALIPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTORS gal/Mull Jan. 11, 1966 1 c. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,228,681

SHEET CALIPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheerl 3 1N VENTORS so C. MLUAMS CUF/mko l? ow/SFELL 6MM om! A NEYS Jan. l1, 1966 1 c. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,228,681

SHEET GALIPER APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS LEO C. A//LL/AMS /lWUMQ A Tree/vers United States Patent C 3,228,681 SHEET CAMPER APPARATUS Leo C. Williams, Sufern, NY., and Clifford l. Rounsefell,

Hillsdale, NJ., assignors to Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,621 11 Claims. (Cl. 271 57) This invention relates to a sheet calipering apparatus and more specically to an apparatus for continuously calipering a stream of lapped sheets.

In the utilization of a roll sheet feeder in conjunction with a printing press the endless web comprising a roll is continuously unwound and cut into sheets by a sheeter mechanism. The several sheets are laid one on top of another to form a stream of overlapping sheets. The stream of overlapping sheets is then turned over s-o that it becomes a stream of underlapping signatures which is fed directly to a printing press. The stream of lapped sheets formed from the sheeter many times contain sheets of irregular length, folded sheets, sheets having turned corners, double sheets, misaligned sheets and sometimes foreign matter. Since the sheets are being fed to a printing press it is essential that these defects be detected and removed from the stream before they reach the press and cause damage. When sheets are fed along a path of travel in an end to end relationship the problem of calipering the sheets is relatively simple. When, however, sheets are fed along a path of travel in underlapping or overlapping relationship to each other the problem of calipering is greatly complicated. This is caused by the fact that as the stream of lapped sheets is fed past a fixed point the thickness of the stream varies between the thickness of one sheet and the thickness of a plurality of sheets depending upon the amount of overlap. Furtherm-ore, the top surface of the stream of lapped sheets is irregular or stepped because of the exposed end of each lapped sheet. Detection of any of these defects in the stream of lapped sheets is based on the principle that as a result of the lapped feed the stream of lapped sheets over a flat surface is not of uniform thickness along its direction of travel, but it should be substantially uniform in thickness along any line at right angles to the path of travel. It is a variation in this line which is detected by the novel sheet calipering apparatus disclosed herein. The novel sheet calipering apparatus is disclosed in operation with a stream of underlapped sheets but said apparatus will operate in the same manner with a stream of overlapped sheets.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a calipering apparatus which will continuously caliper a stream of lapped sheets without regard to the edges of the lapped sheets.

Another object is to provide means for calipering a stream of sheets wherein irregularities in the top surface of the stream are detected except the irregularities caused by the ends of each lapped sheet.

Another object is to provide means to caliper a stream of lapped sheets to detect any sheet in the stream that does not have its leading or trailing end at right angles to the path of travel of the stream.

Another object is to provide a calipering apparatus for a stream of lapped sheets whereby the entire width of the stream is simultaneously calipered.

Another object is to provide means for feeding the stream of lapped sheets so that the top surface of the stream is substantially at right angles to the vertical axis of the calipering means.

Another object is to provide a sheet calipering means comprising a plurality of independently mounted calipering units extending transversely of the path of travel of the stream of sheets.

Patented Jan. ll, 1956 Another object is to provide a sheet calipering means comprising a plurality of independently mounted Calipering units extending transversely of the path of travel of the stream of sheets with means to detect any movement of a single unit relative to an adjacent unit.

A still further object is to provide means for detecting defects in a stream of lapped sheets comprising a plurality of independently operating units extending transversely of said stream and means responsive to the operation of any unit to indicate the area of said stream which contains the defects.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a top plan view of the calipering apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l and showing the conveying means for the stream of underlapped sheets;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 4 4 of FIG. l showing the support means for the upper caliper rollers in which the said rollers are in operative position;

FIG. 5 is the same view as shown in FIG. 4 showing the support means in position to retain the upper caliper rollers in inoperative position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing the sheet calipering apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the caliper rollers and the blade associated with each of the upper caliper rollers for removing foreign matter from said rollers, and

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2, sheets 10 are fed in lapped relationship to each other in a stream of underlapped sheets from a cutter or sheeter or other similar type apparatus onto a conveyor mechanism 11 comprising an endless conveyor belt 12 supported on a frame 13. The calipering apparatus is supported between side frames 14 which are xedly secured to frame 13. A lower caliper roller 15 extends transversely of the apparatus and has its ends rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 13 which supports the conveyor. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor belt 12 passes over a series of pulleys which are arranged in a desired pattern to direct the upper reaches of the belt under the lower caliper roller 1S while at the same time providing support on each side of the roller for the stream of lapped sheets moving in a path which passes over the top of the roller. The spaces on each side of roller 15 measured from the roller to the point where the upper reaches of the conveyor belt 12 departs from the sheet path and from the roller to the point where it returns to the sheet stream path are filled with guide plates 16 and 17. The guide plates 16 and 17 together with the belt 12 form a substantially continuous surface for the movement of the stream of lapped sheets over the top of roller 15. The plates 16, 17 have their ends lixedly secured by suitable means to the portion of the apparatus frame which supports the conveyor mechanism. The upper calipering means comprises a plurality of rollers 18 which are mounted for movement independent of each other and for movement toward and away from the lower caliper roller 15. The mounting means for each of the caliper rollers is identical and therefore a description of one will be sumcient for an understanding of all. Each roller 18 has each end mounted in suitable bearing surfaces in horizontally extending and spaced apart side plates 19. The rear end of each of the plates 19 is mounted lfor free rotation over shaft 20 which extends between said plates. Each shaft 20 is supported at its ends in brackets 21 which are in turn xedly secured to a spreader bar 22. Bar 22 extends the entire width of the apparatus and has its for individual movement toward and away from the lower caliper roller 15. A switch 23 is mounted at each end of each of the rollers 18 with the exception of the two end rollers which have a switch means mounted only at the end which is adjacent another roller. In such position each of the switches 23 is actuated when one of the rollers 18 moves relative to its adjacent roller. -In order to achieve this result, the switch 23 for the end of a particular roller is mounted to the adjacent plate 19 which carries the end of the adjacent roller. The means for mounting each of the switches, the switch structure, the actuating means to the switch, and the connecting arm between the end of the adjacent roller and the switch are of the same construction for each roller and therefore a description of one is suicient for an understanding of all. A support rod 24 is iixedly secured between the side plates 19 and is movable therewith. Rod 24 is positioned between the roller 18 and the support Ishaft 20. A bracket 25 having a pivot bearing- 26 is secured to the rod 24 and is positioned to extend diagonally toward the adjacent roller 18. A switch `=23 is secured to bracket 25. A cam lever 27 having arms 28 and 29 is pivotally mounted to bracket 25 at pivot bearing 26. Secured to the end of arm 28 is one end of a downwardly extending strip 38. The other end of strip 30 is secured to the plate 19. Thus, as either end of the roller 18 and the side plate 19 moves upwardly away from the lower caliper roller the cam lever 27 is pivoted around point 26. The connecting strip 30, because of the angle at which the cam lever 27 is positioned in relation to the side plate 19 is flexible in a horizontal plane but it is rigid in a vertical plane to effect the movement of cam lever 27. Each of the switches 23 is of a conventional type having a spring-loaded plunger 31 wherein the plunger is normally retained in a position away from the switch and the switch is in open position. Upon depressing the plunger the switch is closed. The outer end of arm 29 of the cam lever 27 overlies the plunger 31 ofthe switch 23. A plunger actuator 32 is threadedly engaged in the end of arm 29 and positioned in alignment with plunger 31 so that upon actuation of the cam lever 27 it depresses the plunger 32 to open the switch 23. A conventional lock nut 33 holds the plunger actuator in a preset position. Thus, it can be seen that if an entire roller 18, or either end of a' roller 18, moves in relation to its adjacent roller the switch 23 on the adjacent roller will be actuated. Due to the above described construction of the means for mounting each of the rollers 18 none of the switches 23 will be actuated if all of the rollers are raised simultaneously `since all of the rollers and all of theswitches will be raised simultaneously with no relative motion between the rollers, the cam` lever 27 and switches 23. Thus, as any variation in thickness of the stream of sheets along any line at right angles to the path of travel which passes between the lower roller 15 and each of the upper rollers 18 all of the rollers 18 will be raised simultaneously and none of the switches 23 will be actuated. Should any of the aforementioned defects occur in the stream the roller 18 over the defect will move relative to its adjacent roller and switch 23 will be actuated.

As described above, the sheets 10 are fed in underlapping relationship to each other and the disclosed novel caliper will detect irregularities in the sheets. For any stream of lapped signatures the maximum number of lapped sheets at any one point in the path of travel can ends secured to frames 14. It will be thus seen that each lof the rollers 18 is mounted independent of each other be determined in advance and the caliper means set to indicate the passage of more than the required thickness of sheets at any point in the sheet path. This operation is accomplished through the following mechanism. Opposite the switches at each end of the apparatus there is an arm 36 secured to the top of bracket 21 and which extends forwardly to a position overlying the cam arm 29. A set screw 37 is threadedly engaged in the end of arm 36 and extends downwardly toward the cam arm 29. A conventional locking nut retains screw 37 in a preset position in arm 36. Since each of the arms 36 are secured to a portion of the apparatus which is not movable in relation to the mounting means for the caliper rollers 18, the set screw 37 may be adjusted so that should all of the rollers be simultaneously elevated beyond a predetermined point the cam arms 29 associated with the switches 23 at each endA of the apparatus would be depressed thus actuating those switches and stopping the conveyor means. As shown in FIG. 8 all of the normally open switches 23 are electrically connected with a solenoid which in turn operates a switch in the conveyor motor circuit. The motor circuit solenoid operated switch is of the type that remains closed when the solenoid is not energized. When any of the switches 23 are closed a current flows to energize the solenoid to open the switch in the conveyor motor circuit thus stopping the feeding of the stream of sheets. When a stream of sheets are fed at a high rate of speed the rollers 18 sometimes vibrate as the leadinguedge of each lapped sheet is calipered. In order to avoid. a false response to such movement a time delay relay is included in the circuit between the switches 23 and the solenoid which operates the switch in the conveyor motor circuit. The time delay relay is of a commercial type such as that produced by Machinery Electrication, Inc., Worcester, Mass., model MBK-1803. The time delay relay is adjustable and in this embodiment is adjusted to hold current from passing for 20 to 40 milliseconds. Thus, if any of the switches 23 are actuated to close the circuit the circuit to the solenoid switch will stay open for an additional 20 to 40 milliseconds. At the end of that time if any switch 23 is still closed the solenoid will be energized as set forth above. If desired, each of the switches 23 may be mechanically connected to a switch 23 in a corresponding lamp circuit. Each of the switches 23 are normally closed so that the lamp is illuminated when the corresponding switch 23 is opened to extinguishd the lamp to indicate which switch 23 has-` been c-ose The rollers 18 are mounted in lsuch a manner thaty they may be manually elevated to a position above the roller caliper roll and hence out of operation. This is accomplished by the following mechanism. Secured to each rod 24 at a point approximately in alignment with the center of each of the rollers 18 is a bracket 38 comprising an angle bar 39 and a vertically extending plate 40. A lever 41 is pivotally secured at one end of the rear surface of spreader bar 22 and positioned in alignment with the plate 40. A bolt 42 having an enlarged head adjacent the lever 41 freely passes through suitable openings in the lever 41 and bar 22 and has its other end xedly secured to the upper end of plate 40. A lspring 43 is telescopically mounted over the bolt 42 in the space between the plate 40 and the inner surface of bar 22. Spring 43 is in a slightly compressed condition so that the side plates 19, and the yroller 18 supported therebetween, is urged downwardly toward roller 15 and about shaft 2t) as a pivot point. The upper inner surface of each of the levers 41 has an arcuately Vshaped cam surface 44. A shaft 45 having its ends rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the end brackets 14 is positioned just above the spreader barand in horizontal alignment with the cam portion of-levers 41. A plurality of discs 46 are ixedly secured to the shaft 45 with each disc being positioned adjacent the upper end of each of the levers 41. A pin 47 extends outwardly from each of the discs 46 and is mounted for free rotational movement thereon and is positioned in contact with the cam surface 44 on each of the levers 41. There is shown in FIG. 4 a relationship of these parts when the rollers 18 are in operating position adjacent the roller 15. An operating arm 4S and collar 49 are secured to one end of shaft 45 so that the shaft may be selectively rotated. A pair of pins 54, 5S extend outwardly from the surface of collar 49 a distance sufficient to prevent them from passing the top of spreader bar 22. Pins 54, are so positioned on collar 49 that the rotation of shaft 45 is restricted whereby the angular movement of each of the pins 47 is restricted to the cam surfaces 44. When shaft 45 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FGS. 4 and 5 each of the pins 47 is caused to be moved in a counterclockwise orbit and riding in cam surfaces 44 of the levers 41 forces the upper end of the lever away from bar 22 or to the right as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Outward movement of the upper end of each of the levers 41 causes through each of the bolts 42 a rightward movement of the upper end of plate 40. This causes the side plates 19 and the rollers 18 to move in a clockwise direction around the pivot point of lshaft 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, thus lifting all of the rollers 18 away from the lower roller 15.

As shown in FIG. 7, a blade 50 is suitably mounted between the forward ends of the side plates 19 and positioned so that its outer end is in contact with the surface of each of the rollers 18. rlFhe blades 50 serve the purpose of removing and collecting any foreign matter such as coating or wax which may be on the paper and which may accumulate on the rollers 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the path of the stream of lapped sheets is bent downwardly at a slight angle as it is fed between the lower caliper roller 15 and the upper caliper rollers 18. In order `to assure this change of direction in the path of the stream of sheets there is provided a guide plate 52 spaced over a portion of the belt 12 and the sheet guide plate 16 and conforming to the desired sheet path. A guide plate 53 is mounted over a portion of the belt 12 adjacent the sheet guide 17. Plate 53 has an inwardly tapered leading edge for directing the stream of calipered sheets between the plate and the belt 12. Plate 53 is mounted for manual movement toward and away from the conveyor belt 12 to provide access to the stream if it becomes necessary to remove any sheets.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that said invention is not limited to said embodiment or to the particular manner of lapping the sheets. Various changes may be made therein, particularly in the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be clear to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a supporting surface, a pair of relatively movable members, means for mounting each of said members for movement independently of each other toward and away from said surface, each of said members being separately biased to engage articles interposed between said sur-face and said members, means for detecting movement of one of said members relative to said surface and to the other of said members, said last-named means comprising an element operatively connected to each of said members, the connections between said element and members being spaced apart and such as to permit pivotal movement of said element relative to each of said members in response to movement of one of said members relative to the other, and control means operable in response to 6 pivotal movement of said element resulting from relative movement of said members.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means is mounted for movement with one of said members.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 comprising stationary stop means engageable by said element when said members move in unison in one direction to a predetermined position relative to said surface to thereby permit operative engagement of said element and said control means upon continued movement of said members in unison in said one direction.

4. Apparatus for calipering a stream of lapped sheets comprising a conveyor for carrying a stream of lapped sheets in a predetermined path, a plurality of caliper members extending transversely of said stream path and operatively associated with said conveyor, means to independently mount each of said caliper members for movement away from said conveyor, a signal means associated with each of said caliper members, at least one signal actuating element for each caliper member, each of said signal actuating elements being operatively connected between a pair of said caliper members to actuate the signal means associated with one of said pair when the other of said pair moves away from said conveyor relative to said one.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means to actuate at least one of said signal means when both caliper means of a pair move away from said conveyor.

6. An apparatus for calipering a stream of lapped sheets comprising a conveyor -for carrying a stream of lapped sheets in a predetermined path, a plurality of caliper members, each of said caliper members being supported between a pair of plates, each pair of plates and the caliper members supported therebetween being mounted for movement of the caliper members toward and away from a stream of sheets in said path, a switch and a lever mounted on at least one plate of each pair, Said levers being pivotally mounted on said plates, each lever having a first arm adapted to actuate the switch which is on the same plate when the lever is pivoted in one direction and a second arm operatively connected to a plate of another pair to pivot said lever to actuate said switch when the caliper member supported between said other pair of plates moves away from said stream of sheets relative to the caliper member which is supported 4between the pair of plates on one of which said lever is mounted.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including means to pivot at least one of said levers to actuate the switch associated therewith when the two caliper members with which said lever is associated both move away from said conveyor.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a supporting surface, a lframe member, at least one pair of caliper members, means for mounting each of said caliper members for movement independently of each other toward and away from said surface, said means comprising two pair of parallel plates pivotally mounted at one end on said frame member with a caliper member supported between the other ends of each pair, a switch and a lever mounted on one of the plates of each pair, said levers being pivotally mounted on said plates and comprising a rst arm at one side of the pivot point and a second arm at the opposite side thereof, said rst arm being adapted to actuate the switch which is on the same plate when the lever is pivoted in one direction, said second arm being operatively connected to one of the plates of the other pair to pivot said lever to actuate said switch when the caliper member supported -between said other pair of plates moves away from said surface relative to the other caliper member.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 including stop means fixed on said frame member in position to engage one of said rst arms of one of said levers and cause said lever to pivot and actuate the switch associated with 7 said rst arm when the plate on which said lever and switch `are mounted is pivoted la predetermined amount 'by movement of the caliper member associated therewith away from said surface.

. 10. Apparatus in accor-dance with claim 8 wherein said pair of caliper members are adjacent in a line transversely of said surface.

switches on each of said plates between adjacent pairs of caliper members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,018 8/1915 Beregh. 2,632,545 3/1953 Schubert a 271-57 X 2,637,552 6/ 1953 Watson 271-57 10 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner. 

4. APPARATUS FOR CALIPERING A STREAM OF LAPPED SHEETS COMPRISING A CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING A STREAM OF LAPPED SHEETS IN A PREDETERMINED PATH, A PLURALITY OF CALIPER MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID STREAM PATH AND OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS TO INDEPENDENTLY MOUNT EACH OF SAID CALLIPER MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID CONVEYOR, A SIGNAL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID CALIPER MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE SIGNAL ACTUATING ELEMENT FOR EACH CALIPER MENBER, EACH OF SAID SIGNAL ACTUATING ELEMENTS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID CALIPER MEMBERS TO ACTUATE THE SIGNAL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID PAIR WHEN 